[gwnn]

AKQx
xxx
xxx
xxx

1♣-p-1♥-?

Opps vulnerable teams.

[Echognome]

To me it's an obvious pass. Lots of danger here when partner couldn't overcall 1♣. Sure he could have a fair hand, but the odds aren't very good. I don't really think the danger is in having 1♠ doubled, but it's in having 2 or 3 spades doubled when partner raises.

[jtfanclub]

Looks like a pass to me. What am I missing?

[jillybean]

Depending who Im playing with I'd like to lob a 1♠ bid in here. Smart? probably not.

[Lobowolf]

Gee, I feel better...I thought I was going to get laughed at for passing. I think the most likely danger is turning a plus into a minus when partner competes a level (or two) too high based on misjudging the fit.

I'd balance with this hand, though, if 2♥ comes back to me. Partner should know that my hand isn't particularly constructive and sit tight. If partner lays off your balancing actions, you get to either play 2♠ or defend 3♥, either of which is fine with me on this hand; if partner tends to go "one more for the road" then you get to play 3♠ or defend 2♥...so hopefully partner lets the balancer balance, and hopes that 5 tricks are there on defense.

[cherdano]

White vs red? I bid 1♠.

[inquiry]

cherdano, on Aug 19 2008, 02:56 PM, said:

White vs red? I bid 1♠.

This is not a good bid at imps. How can you ever bid constructively if you bid 1♠ on this trash just for the opening lead. I mean how can your partner ever take you seriously. I have loads of sympathy for a 1♠ bid at Matchpoints, in fact with a very similar hand, I once made a preemptive 2♠ overcall, but never, ever either of these bids at teams. If we belong in the bidding (and with partner passing over 1♣ I kind of doubt it), we will have time to bid later.

[jdonn]

inquiry, on Aug 19 2008, 03:11 PM, said:

cherdano, on Aug 19 2008, 02:56 PM, said:

White vs red? I bid 1♠.

This is not a good bid at imps. How can you ever bid constructively if you bid 1♠ on this trash just for the opening lead. I mean how can your partner ever take you seriously. I have loads of sympathy for a 1♠ bid at Matchpoints, in fact with a very similar hand, I once made a preemptive 2♠ overcall, but never, ever either of these bids at teams. If we belong in the bidding (and with partner passing over 1♣ I kind of doubt it), we will have time to bid later.

Are you saying you would pass if one little card from another suit was a little spade? This hand is obviously different from AKQxx xxx xx xxx, but not SO different that bidding 1♠ makes it impossible to have a perfectly good auction if it's our hand. I am just mildly against 1♠.

[jdonn]

FWIW I'm not particularly scared of 1♠, I just picture lots of small losses of getting too high when partner overcompetes. But there are lots of compensating gains too, in fact the more I think the more I'm changing my mind on the spot haha.

If you fear anything it should be that the opponents have a spade fit and you keep them out of it.

[cherdano]

I would bid 1♠ with many hands with 5 spades but similar playing strength (lower hcp). So this "how can you ever have a constructive auction?" isn't really a matter for this hand alone. (And the answer is: by listening at the whole auction, including opponents, you can usually guess pretty well.)
Btw I hate balancing with this kind of hand over, say, 2♥.

[kenrexford]

The Devil on my shoulder keeps whispering 2♠, but I think I'll pass sanely.

[andy_h]

I also like 1S especially at these colours. Many good things can happen as Justin had pointed out. Of course our hand's not perfect given the rotten shape, but the conditions just call out for an overcall. My overcalling style at the 1 level can be very light too, so having a constructive auction is not a problem for me.

[pclayton]

1♠. Maybe I'll double 3N too (jk).

[655321]

1♠ for me.

Dislike 2♠ at any form of scoring.

[CSGibson]

1 spade. Wouldn't really even think about it at the table, but my partners know I overcall these, so the danger of overcompeting is a little less.